George Karl on what's wrong with basketball (and the Blazers)

[BBert]

The closer Shaq got to the end of his career the more it seemed like he only cared about getting ready for the playoffs, and started coming into the season more and more out of shape and taking longer to get into shape. Could be wrong; That's just how I remember it.

Oh, yeah: Fuck Shaq

 

[handiman]

Sorry, but Houston's lineup was better.

Kenny Smith
Mario Elie
Clyde Drexler
Robert Horry
Hakeem

Hardaway
Nick Anderson
Dennis Scott
Horace Grant
Shaq

Both great lineups, but Orlando got worked because Houston was vet savy. AT THAT TIME, Houston was far superior because of experience alone. Orlando choked because of inexperience.

Then when you add a bench to Houston that includes:

Sam Cassell
Vernon Maxwell
Tracy Murry

VS

Brian Shaw
Tree Rollins
Jeff Turner


Houston was a well oiled machine that had won the year before beating the Knicks.

Horry and Cassell were very young players who fit the system great but were pleasant surprises. Kenny Smith and Mario Elie were basically journeymen, although that's a bit unkind to Smith at that stage of his career. Hakeem was at his peak and Clyde was still pretty darn good, but no way that was a more talented lineup than Orlando's. Definitely more experienced, though.

 

[Minstrel]

Yeah, I also think Orlando went into that series with the better roster. Nick Anderson is a punch line now (thanks to game 1 of that series) but at the time he was a very well-regarded shooting guard and Dennis Scott was a perfect complementary player, with his spot-up three-point shooting.

I hate playing pop psychologist, but I think Orlando lost a ton of confidence after letting Game 1 slip away when it was basically as in the bank as a close-ish game can be. However, while I think it's fair to say that Orlando underperformed in that series and Houston overperformed, I don't think it's fair to say Shaq underperformed. It's popular wisdom to say that Olajuwon dominated Shaq, but that's really not true. Olajuwon was a greater force than their respective stat lines suggest and I wouldn't argue those who say Olajuwon played a better series, but Shaq was insanely productive. He wasn't the problem.

 

[dviss1]

Yeah, I also think Orlando went into that series with the better roster. Nick Anderson is a punch line now (thanks to game 1 of that series) but at the time he was a very well-regarded shooting guard and Dennis Scott was a perfect complementary player, with his spot-up three-point shooting.

I hate playing pop psychologist, but I think Orlando lost a ton of confidence after letting Game 1 slip away when it was basically as in the bank as a close-ish game can be. However, while I think it's fair to say that Orlando underperformed in that series and Houston overperformed, I don't think it's fair to say Shaq underperformed. It's popular wisdom to say that Olajuwon dominated Shaq, but that's really not true. Olajuwon was a greater force than their respective stat lines suggest and I wouldn't argue those who say Olajuwon played a better series, but Shaq was insanely productive. He wasn't the problem.

It was one of the best center matchups of all time. Shaq didn't underperform at all. He dominated and lost due to his supporting cast.

 

[riverman]

Too bad he passed but I'd love to see a George Karl, George Carlin debate

 

[Orion Bailey]

Horry and Cassell were very young players who fit the system great but were pleasant surprises. Kenny Smith and Mario Elie were basically journeymen, although that's a bit unkind to Smith at that stage of his career. Hakeem was at his peak and Clyde was still pretty darn good, but no way that was a more talented lineup than Orlando's. Definitely more experienced, though.

That's basically what I said.

Both great lineups, but Houston was vet savy. An experienced machine. that alone made them better.

ShaQ didn't choke. He ran into the second of a back to back championship team with one of the few centers in history that could rival Shaq ass greatest ever.

 

[handiman]

It was one of the best center matchups of all time. Shaq didn't underperform at all. He dominated and lost due to his supporting cast.

And yet no one seems to be grasping the obvious comparison to Dame at the heart of this thread. Amidst all the rapping and promotional activities, Shaq put up great numbers while his team faltered.

 

[dviss1]

And yet no one seems to be grasping the obvious comparison to Dame at the heart of this thread. Amidst all the rapping and promotional activities, Shaq put up great numbers while his team faltered.

They beat Jordan when Jordan came back. Not everyone wins a championship. 29 other teams don't.

 

[riverman]

And yet no one seems to be grasping the obvious comparison to Dame at the heart of this thread. Amidst all the rapping and promotional activities, Shaq put up great numbers while his team faltered.

I'd have to say Dame put up great numbers while his team faltered as well...all fall

 

[handiman]

They beat Jordan when Jordan came back. Not everyone wins a championship. 29 other teams don't.

Nick Anderson himself said that wasn't Michael Jordan out there.

And way to 100% ignore the content of the statement you quoted.

I'd have to say Dame put up great numbers while his team faltered as well...all fall

You do realize, you just repeated what I said? That's exactly why the Shaq comparison was relevant in the first place. Good stats don't always tell the whole story.

 

[dviss1]

Nick Anderson himself said that wasn't Michael Jordan out there.

And way to 100% ignore the content of the statement you quoted.

Shaquille O'Neal averaged what he averaged and made it to the finals and ended up losing. He was young but still dominated. Saying that he lost in the finals because he had a rap album that year is simply bullshit. Just like saying the reason why we're losing now is because Dame has a rap album out. More bullshit. It's hard not to ignore or to give credence to such a bullshit argument.

 

[WillG]

If Dame thinks he has the time to make a rap album amongst his other responsibilities - then that's his prerogative.
Does it affect his performance? That's for Dame and the Blazers Organization to decide.

 

[THE HCP]

This brother is averaging 27/6/5 with a PER of 25

Maybe the REST of the roster should consider making albums in the offseason.